How Much Are Quartz Countertops?

Let’s find out and see if they are worth it at all? First let’s take a look to see if you’ll be able to afford it? Then let’s see why simple square foot estimates that you do on your own will be very far off.

For starters, one dealer will tell you that quartz counters will cost anywhere from $50 up to $100 or more per square foot while another will give you an average of $60-$80.

Most people make a quick estimate at home with their tape measure or ruler (GASP!) to measure the existing work surface. It can get quite exciting when you do it this way. You think you are getting a good idea of the price but in most cases you’ll be quite disappointed when you factor in the other costs involved.

The Price Per Square Foot Bait And Switch

Quite often the prices that you see listed are for the raw slabs themselves and don’t include any of the extras or even the installation. If you look at a website and see a counter that is on sale for only $39.99 per square foot the chances are good that this is for material only and you’ll be paying a lot more to get it fabricated into an actual countertop.

You shouldn’t put stock into a quick estimate that relies on square foot alone.

Find out exactly what is included with that

Does the quote include a sink cutout?

How about the edging, will that cost extra?

The list goes on and on.

The price per square foot for quartz countertops doesn’t mean a thing unless you know everything that is included.

What May Raise The Cost Even More

Let’s take a look at all of the hidden costs that could possibly be added in.

Edging

Some companies will include basic edging options (i.e. bullnose) in the estimate while some companies won’t charge extra for it at all. This can significantly increase the price, depending on the specific edge detail you choose.

Demolition

You may also have to pay for the tearout of your original countertop and for any modifications.

Cutouts

Backsplash

These are nice and should be strongly considered. However you can forgo one and tile the way instead. If you’re looking to save the most money overall it’s likely cheaper to get a backslash and simply paint the wall.

The Total Expense

When you are comparing the price of quartz countertops from various suppliers you’ll need to make sure that you’re making a correct comparison.

For example, the $39.95 price per square foot that you see advertised may actually end up costing a lot more than the $80 per square foot option you see somewhere else. The $80 option may already include all of the extras while $39.95 includes absolutely none of them.

Beware Of Low Quality Suppliers

Another factor to consider is the quality of the slab. You’ll need to make sure that you are buying from a reputable company.

Slabs are making their way over from China and many people have problems with them. The Countertop Investigator tells us that they get an email almost every day from someone in China that sells them, and they don’t even sell any actual kitchen worktops. Imagine how actively fabricators and dealers are being pursued and how temping it must be for them to start sourcing crazy low cost material.

You’ll need to make sure that you are buying a high quality piece of quartz from established companies such as Silestone, Cambria®, Caesarstone, Zodiaq® etc. This is a major purchase and you certainly won’t want to rip them out again if you find they just aren’t up to par.

The Return On Investment

Another thing to consider how much they will increase the value of your entire house.

If you’re going to be selling your home in the near future you may need to replace the yellow stained laminate you currently have with a new one anyway. It’s estimated that you’ll see a rise in the sale price of your home by 3% to 7%. Of course, this is just an average and will definitely vary from home to home.

The return on investment value does not only include the cost of the countertop. It also includes the personal enjoyment that you get out of it along with its practical value. The kitchen is the place where people assemble in the morning to talk about the day ahead and the place where people gather in the evening to enjoy a quick snack before going to bed.

When you’re trying to figure out if this kitchen upgrade is worth the expense at all take into account how much quartz will add to the beauty of the kitchen. It should also factor-in the functionality of it for cooking purposes. The ROI of any new kitchen counter does not only include the potential rise in the resale value of the home.

Overall, you need to look at the bigger picture when you are examining the cost of a bright, shiny, new quartz countertop. Get the total of the slab, the installation and any extras you need before making any price comparisons. This is the only true way to find out whether you’re getting a great deal or just getting taken for a great deal.